Process of bleaching beeswax.



GOT'I'LIEIB F. 'JEHLICKA, OF WILLIAMSVILLE. MASSACHUSETTS.

PROCESS OF BLEACHING BEESWAX.

No Drawing.

The invention consists essentially in the process of bleaching beeswax by the action of sodium peroxid, and

of treatment hereinafter fully described.

In carrying my invention into practice for bleaching a determined quantity of yellow beeswax, say 100 pounds, the beeswax is first placed in a suitable tub or. receptacle and melted by the action of steam issuing from a perforated heating coil. The wax is then allowed to settle until clear and free from sediment and also free from all moisture. A bath is then prepared in a second tub or receptacle, as follows: To 12 gallons of cold water are added 21 ounces of iron-free sulfuric acid, into which solution is then thoroughly stirredl pound of peroxid of sodium. The bath is then tested with red and blue litmus papers, and small quantities of acid and peroxid added until the bath is neutral. If too much acid has been added, the blue paper shows red. This can be corrected by adding peroxid of sodium. If toomuch peroxid of sodium is presented, the red paper shows blue. This can be corrected by adding acid. When both papers remain of natural color, the bath is in proper condition for use. It is then made slightly alkaline by the addition of a small quantity of silicate of soda. The melted wax is then drawn from the melting receptacle into the bath of the bleaching receptacle, and steam is then admitted into said bleaching receptacle through a closed steam coil and the Wax and bath heated to a temperature of about 17 0 F. It is kept at a temperature of from 160 F. to 170 F. during the entire process, or until the wax is thoroughly bleached.

While the wax is under treatment in the heated bath, the wax and bath are kept constantly agitated, by which all particles of the wax are brought into contact with the Specification 01 Letters Patent.

through the mode Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Application filed October 15, 1912. Serial No. 725,917.

bleaching solution. This operation of agitating the wax and bath is preferably carried out by injecting currents of compressed air into the bath through a perforated pipe or coil, the air escaping through small openings in the pipe or coil and rising to the surface of the bath, forming bubbles which in their passage agitate the bath and at the same time agitate the wax, keeping the wax divided into small particles and bringing the bleaching solution and oxygen liberated by the actionof the acid on the sodium peroxid into intimate contact therewith. After a period of about 10 hours treatment of the character described, the wax is bleached fairly white, but if it is desired to bleach it extra white the same operation is repeated the following day. After the wax is bleached to the-desired degree, it is allowed to settle, and is then removed from the bleaching receptacle and dipped into another receptacle containing about 10 gallons of cold acidulated water. It is then heated by the action of steam injected through a coil and boiled in the acidulated water for a period of about 5 minutes, whereby all foreign matter is removed. The wax is then allowed to settle, after which it is poured into molds and allowed to cool, when it is ready for commercial use.

In the operation of bleaching wax by the action of the sun, a period of at least 1 months treatment is required. By my improved process, the wax may be. thoroughly bleached and whitened within a period of not more than two days. process described provides a wax suitable for the manufacture of the best candles without the necessity of combining the chemical treatment with air or sun bleaching.

I claim 1. The herein-described process of bleaching beeswax, which consists in' melting the wax in a suitable receptacle by the direct action of steam, allowing the wax to settle until clear and free from sediment and moisture, withdrawing the wax into a second 'receptacle and sub ecting the same to the action of a slightly alkaline bleachin bath of water, sulfuric acid and peroxid 0% sodium, heating the bath duringl the process of treatment, agitating the bat and wax durin the bleaching action, withdrawing the wax .rom the bleaching bath lated water, heating boiling temperature into a bath of cold aciduthe acidulated water to for a definite period by Furthermore, the

the bath and Wax during the bleaching treatment, Withdrawing the Wax from the bleaching bath into a bath of cold acidulated Water, heating the acidulated Water to boiling temperature for a definite period, and then Withdrawing and molding the Wax.

3. The hereindescribed process of bleaching beeswax, Which consists in melting the Wax ina suitable receptacle by the direct action of steam, allowing the WELX to settle until clear and. free from sediment and moisture Withdrawing the Wax into a second receptacle and subjecting the same to the action of a slightly alkaline bleaching bath formed approximately of 21 ounces of iron-free sulfuric acid and 1 pound of peroxid of sodium to 12 gallons of Water, rendering the bath slightly alkaline by the addition of a small quantity of silicate of soda, heating the bath by the injection of steam during the bleaching action to a temperature of from 160 to 170 1 agitating the bath and Wax by the injection of currents of air through the bath during the bleaching action, Withdrawing the wax from the bleaching bath into a bath of cold acidulated Water, heating the acid ulated Water to boiling temperature for a definite period by the injection of steam, and then Withdrawing and melting the Wax.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GOTTLIEB F. JEHLICKA. Witnesses:

l/VILLIAM R. SPooNER, RonoLPHo M. HANDY. 

